New pick-up, drop-off spots await students at three Jackson Public Schools buildings

JACKSON, MI – The students are away, but several Jackson Public Schools buildings have been anything but quiet this summer.

Among the most noticeable changes facing families when classes resume on Sept. 4 are new student pick-up and drop-off spots at Cascades, Dibble and Northeast elementary schools and a new entrance at Frost Elementary School.

Some of the $3.7 million in estimated savings from projects approved by voters in a $16.6 million bond issue in 2009 are being used for these projects, which Rod Walz, JPS director of district operations, said will enhance safety.

“Everything we do here is with kids in mind and safety is a huge priority,” Walz said. “If it hadn’t been for the foresight and support of our community and the voters we would not be as far along as we are in doing these projects.”

The new pick-up and drop-off spot in front of Cascades will separate cars from buses and prevent students from having to come out onto Wisner to get into cars, Walz said.

A similar project at Dibble will double the size of the parking lot off Robinson Road and create a new drop-off area that will also separate cars and buses. And a new bus lane around the south end of Northeast will keep buses and cars apart there, too.

At Frost, a new entrance from the east end parking lot is being constructed and a nurse office and storage area is being put in where the entrance is now. The principal’s office and reception area are also being renovated to make them more user friendly, Walz said.

Athletic facilities also are getting an upgrade this summer. That includes safer bleachers at the Justin Mehall Memorial soccer field at the Middle School at Parkside and a new surface on the Jackson High School track.

“The new track surface should improve speed and traction,” Walz said. “I think it will create another record-setting surface.”

Other projects this summer include new ventilation systems, ceilings, lights and flooring at Bennett and Cascades elementary schools.

Bennett also is getting a new computer lab in the media center, and Cascades is getting a new, larger pump that will correct a flooding problem in the auditorium.

“The floor in the auditorium is the same level as the ponds in Cascades Falls Park,” Walz said. “If we got a real bad rain the old pump couldn’t handle all the water migrating in. This will take care of it.”

Approximately 75 percent of the work this summer is being done by local contractors, Walz said.

“Our goal is to put the money the voters have given us back into the community,” he said. “We want to help build Jackson by providing schools that attract kids and parents and businesses to our community.”